Security Council Accuses Houthis of Obstructing Political Process

Arab World

August 24th, 7:48am

Washington - Ali Barada

(UN Photo/Manuel Elías) Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Yemen.

The United Nations has accused Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen of slowing down peace efforts by “continuing to set conditions” for their engagement in the political process. The international body also urged all warring parties to refrain from weaponizing the war-torn country’s economy. For its part, Washington called on Houthis to change their positions and not waste the “precious opportunity” for dialogue after the Saudi-led Arab Coalition and the Yemeni government having shown openness to implementing a ceasefire. “No progress has been made by parties in Yemen to reach a political agreement to settle the civil war, which is now in its seventh year,” said Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, in his briefing to the Security Council on Monday. “It is imperative to resume an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict,” said Khiari, referring to a 2015 peace plan, which called for a nationwide ceasefire, the reopening of Sanaa airport, the easing of restrictions on fuel and goods flowing through Hodeidah port, and the resumption of face-to-face political negotiations. Khiari said that the Houthis continue to make the opening of Hodeidah ports and Sanaa airport, as well as on the ending of what they call the “aggression and occupation”, conditions of their renewed participation in the political process. Moreover, negotiations facilitated by Saudi Arabia on the Riyadh Agreement – which were focused on the return of the Prime Minister and other ministers to Aden – have yet to resume following the Eid break in July. Timely progress on the accord’s implementation remains vital to address the tensions in the south, he explained. Meanwhile, military activity continues to ebb and flow, said Khiari, with sporadic fighting observed in Al Jawf and Taiz. Marib remains the key strategic focus. Khiari called on all parties to “completely and immediately” cease attempts to achieve territorial gains by force.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3149226/security-council-accuses-houthis-obstructing-political-process